MHACA organised a successful Suicide Prevention Forum at the Alice Springs Desert Park 1-2 June.
The aim of the forum was to connect people, share the learnings from local programs that are working on addressing suicide, and have some good collective discussions that support reducing suicides in our community. 67 people attended on the first day, and 76 attended on the second.
On Wednesday 1 Juneย Kumalie Riley provided a Welcome to Country and attendees heard from a wide range of organisations and programs includingย Akeyulerre Healing Centre,ย Central Australian Aboriginal Congress,ย headspace Alice Springs,ย NPY Womenโs Councilย Uti Kulintjaku Program,ย Arrernte Community Boxing Academy,ย Thirrili โ Indigenous Suicide Postvention Serviceย and MacYouth.
On the second day there were presentations byย Royal Flying Doctor Service SA/NT,ย Tangentyere Menโs Family Safety Group,ย Lifelineย Central Australia,ย 13 Yarn,ย Northern Territory PHN,ย NT Healthย Suicide Prevention Coordinator,ย R U OK Dayย Stronger Together and theย Central Desert Regional Councilย who shared their work of their Community Safety Program.
Participants discussed what is working well in suicide prevention and what the challenges are, and workshopped ideas on how we can work better together. There was some great networking and connections made.
The Suicide Prevention Forum was organised by MHACA and supported by Wesley LifeForce and the Northern Territory Government Department of Health.